Endocrine Tumor

What is an endocrine gland?

An endocrine gland is a specialized structures that are found in different parts of the body that secrete hormones.

What is a hormone?

Hormones are chemical substances that are delivered directly into the blood from endocrine organs. Hormones can produce profound effects on many parts of the body. For example insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. Testosterone is a hormone that causes the development of male sexual characteristics.

What are endocrine tumors

Endocrine tumors are abnormal growths in endocrine glands. Since endocrine glands produce hormones, tumors of endocrine glands also produce hormones. These hormones are produced in excessive amounts by endocrine tumors and then released into the blood.
The excessive amounts of hormones in the blood produce markedly abnormal effects on the body. For example in normal individuals insulin is secreted from pancreatic islet cells in just the right amount to keep your blood sugar levels within normal limits. In patients with insulin producing islet cell tumors of the pancreas, excessive insulin is produced in the blood that cause large decreases in blood sugar levels so that patients suffer from severe effects of low blood sugar.

Are endocrine tumors benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous)?

Endocrine tumors can be benign or grow as cancers. Often this distinction between cancer and not cancer is very difficult even after removal of the tumors. In some patients removal of what was thought to be a benign growth may come back as a cancerous recurrence. All patients with endocrine tumors of the abdomen should be followed carefully to detect early recurrence of the cancer.

What are abdominal endocrine tumors?

There are many endocrine glands that found in the abdomen. The two most important are:

• Adrenal gland
• Islet cells in the pancreas

Tumors can arise from both these two endocrine glands. Up to half of all tumors produce excess amounts of hormones that produce symptoms in the affected patient.

What are adrenal tumors

The adrenal gland is really two organs in one. The outer part of the adrenal is called the cortex and the inner part of the adrenal medulla. The two parts of the adrenal perform different functions and have different embryological origins.
Tumors of the adrenal glands arise from the cortex or the medulla part of the adrenal gland. Adrenal tumors commonly present because of excess secretion of hormones by the tumor. The tumors that commonly occur in the adrenal gland are

• Tumors of the adrenal cortex that produce excess secretion of steroid hormones: a condition called Cushing’s disease
• Tumors of the adrenal cortex that produce excess secretion of aldosterone: a condition called Conn’s syndrome
• Tumors of the adrenal medulla produce excessive amounts of catecholamines: a condition called pheochromocytoma

Adrenal tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancer). Often this separation is difficult to make and long term close follow up is necessary after removal to detect recurrences early in patients who have adrenal cancer.

What is the treatment for adrenal tumors?

Adrenal tumors should be removed by surgery. Some of the procedures offered at USC for adrenal tumors are:

• Laparoscopic adrenalectomy:This is the treatment of choice for tumors less than 10cm.
• Open adrenalectomy: This is recommended only in patients where there is suspicion of cancer
• Laparoscopic removal of both adrenal glands: Recommended for patients with disease in both adrenal glands causing Cushing’s disease or pheochromocytoma.